Carton setup machine



Nov. 17, 1953 R. J. FAHEY CARTON SETUP MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1948 Nov. 17, 1953 R. J. FAHEY CARTON SETUP MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1948 Nov. 17, 1953 R. J. FAHEY CARTON SETUP MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 12, 1948 INVEN TOR. cf

Nov. 17, 1953 R. J. FAHEY 2,659,279

Y CARTON SETUP MACHINE Filed June 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 NOV. 17, 1953 R J FAHEY 2,659,279

CARTON SETUP MACHINE Filed June 12, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IINVENTOR. fltalal'a Jfafig BY Nov. 17, 1953 R. J. FAHEY 2,659,279

CARTON SETUP MACHINE, v

Filed June 12, 1948 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 a a {7 JNVENTOR.

fiz'ciardrffa'i'gy BY WP M Nov. 17, 1953 R. J. FAHEY CARTON SETUP MACHINE 7 sheets-sheet '7 Filed June 12, 1948 a M w M V\ 2 E fl b 2 V 1 M a m M W 1 w 1 w w w a J j a j I N/ n 7 Patented Nov. 17, 1953 CARTON SETUP MACHINE Richard J. Fahey, Evanston, Ill., assignor to General Package Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application June 12, 1948, Serial No. 32,634

23 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for automatically setting up a well known type of compartmented paperboard egg carton. These cartons, of which there are numerous types, are characterized by integral longitudinal partition means extending along a medial line thereof and by a plurality of sets of transverse partition members integrally hinged to the opposed carton side walls, which transverse partition members are swingable from their inoperative position, coplanar with one another in the nonerected or collapsed, knock-down condition of the carton, about integral hinges to an upstanding position normal to the aforesaid longitudinal partition means. The patent to Felix Troyk, Re. 18,922, of August 22, 1933, is illustrative of a carton of this type; and the present machine is especially adapted for automatically setting up such Troyk cartons. However, it will become apparent from the description to follow that the apparatus is not necessarily limited in applicability to the handling of this particular carton, but, on the contrary, will be found to be well suited for the automatic setting up of various other collapsible, compartmented paperboard cartons of the general sort referred to.

I am aware that automatic machinery has heretofore been designed by others for setting up many kinds of flexible paperboard cartons, also that numerous types of hand equipment have been evolved. However, the physical characteristics of Troyk cartons of the type referred to are such that quite thorough and comprehensive provisions must be made in an automatic set up machine therefor for the purpose of maintaining positive control of the collapsed carton as it is withdrawn from a supply and then fed through the machine. Otherwise, as is the case in certain existing machines, the set-up operation is relatively slow and unreliable, and the cartons are apt to become deformed in passing through the apparatus and to clog or jam the same as a consequence. Most machines which have been designed to date are also objectionable by reason of their high cost, due to the complexity and number of their parts, and are quite likely to get out of adjustment or otherwise become inoperative.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple, automatic, carton set-up apparatus which is reliably operable at comparatively high speed, said apparatus having provision for feeding knocked-down egg cartons from a stack thereof; for advancing the cartons in series through a continuous cycle of operation in which they are erected to .a set-up position, while always maintaining positive control of the carbon; for preliminarily shaping the knocked-down articles to a partially erected, generally quadrilateral sectional outline during advance as aforesaid; and for completing the erection or setting up of the cartons by swinging the transverse partition members thereof to their final, operative position, in which they are interlocked with the bottom or longitudinal partition of the carton, all of which instrumentalities are characterized by their reliability of operation and their freedom from likelihood of damaging the carton while manipulating the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a set-up machine for egg cartons having novel provisions for advancing cartons successively from a vertical stack thereof in a positive and unfailing fashion and in timed relation to the operation of further instrumentalities of the setup machine, said feed means including a reciprocatory shuttle of novel character to insure reliable feeding engagement with the lowermost carton of a supply stack.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carton set-up machine including a forming chute to which cartons are initially fed by said feed means, which chute has a novel, specially designed opening tongue projecting rearwardly and engageable between certain parts of the fiat, knocked-down carton in a fashion to insure proper commencement of the continuous carton body erecting cycle performed by the chute.

Yet another object is to provide, in association with carton supply means and chute-like body forming provisions of the type referred to above, improved means for positively engaging the cartons after they have passed out of the supply hopper from which they are fed, for advancing the same steadly and seriatim in a linear path through the body forming chute into operative transverse relation to an improved partition erecting head, for disengaging the cartons during Operation of said head and for again engaging and discharging the finally erected cartons successively from the zone of said head after the erecting operation has been completed.

A still further object is to provide a novel and improved set-up or partition erecting head for a machine of the present type.

Another object is to provide, in a machine of the above sort, carton supply, advancing and erecting instrumentalities including a supply hopper and a chute through which cartons are fed, in combination with novel control means for halting the operation of the apparatus in the event the supply of knocked-down cartons in the hopper becomes exhausted or a carton traversing the chute fails to become properly formed or erected.

Yet another object is to provide a carton setup machine of the type described including, in combination with a chute through which the cartonis advanced .to initially erect the same to generally quadrilateral form, a pair of coacting oppositely oscillatory members successively engageable with the carton cross partitions and bottom during a dwell in the carton travel to cause final erection and locking of the said partition members with a longitudinal partition which is integral with said bottom.

A more specific object is to provide a positive stop engageable by the cartons toward the end of their travel through the apparatus to prevent undesired movement under the influence of said erecting means.

A still further object is to provide a carton setup apparatus'characterized by coacting cross partition erecting members of the type referred to above, in which said members are operatively interconnected to the reciprocatory feed means for'initially advancing the knock-down carton from a stacked supply thereof, thereby effecting automatic operation of the intermittent feed means in accurately timed relation to the final partition erecting phase of the set-up cycle.

Another object is to provide a set-up machine comprising one or more units transversely engageable with a carton for the purpose of completing final erection and locking in position of a plurality of integral carton cross partition elements, including a head of novel character having relatively fixed and movable members and novel means for actuating the latter to clamp said partition elements therebetween.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a carton set-up head having relatively fixed abutment members adapted to be disposed to one side of the aforesaid carton partition elements and relative movable members'shiftable as a unit toward said abutment members, whereby to clamp said elements between said members, together with means for imparting a lost motion stroke to the movable members and thereby affording a time delay in the operation thereof.

A still further specific object of the invention is to provide a carton set-up head of the type described, including reciprocatory set-up members jactuable as aunit toward and from a corresponding number of fixed abutment members in' which said first named members are driven by a novel lost motion, spring type actuating device and are cushioned on their spring return or partition disengaging stroke, to prevent objectionable vibration, by an air cylinder or like impact damping device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton set-up machine of the foregoing character having provisions operable in timed relation to the shiftable partition erecting members of 'the set-up head for preventing undesirable longitudinal advance of the partially formed carton while the aforesaid shiftable members are acting on the cross partitions of said carton.

A still further object is to provide an improved method of erecting collapsible, cellular, hinged partition type egg cartons, involving the progressive distending of the collapsed cartons from a flat, knocked-down condition while advancing in the direction of the length of said cartons, and subsequently deflecting the hinged cross partitions thereof from a generally coplanar relation to operative erected condition at a right angle to the walls of the carton.

The foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention, but other and more specific objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construotionand operation of the device.

Two embodiments of the invention, as regards the set-up head of the apparatus, are presented herein for purpose of exemplification, but it will be appreciated that the various features of the invention are all susceptible of incorporation in other modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, partially brokenaway and vertically sectioned, of a carton set-up apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated'in Fig. 1, beingalso partially broken away and sectioned along a line corresponding generally to line 2-2 of Fig. 1 to further illustrate certain details;

Figs. 3 and 3A are complementary, enlarged, fragmentary views in longitudinal section through the machine, along a line corresponding approximately to line 3-3 of Fig. 2, illustrating certain details of the apparatusand also showing some of the features of the Troyk type carton operated upon by the latter;

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in transverse vertical section along line 44 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, more clearly illustrating certain details of the carton feed apparatus and provisions for initiating formation of the body of the carton;

Fig. 5 is a view in transverse vertical section along the line 55 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3A, illustrating details of the final partition erecting and locking provisions of the apparatus, and also indicating certain structural features of the carton;

' 'Fig. 6 is a plan view of the carton body forming chute of the apparatus, illustrating novel provisions of the latter for insuring unfailingly proper initiation of the carton erecting cycl by spreading of the carton body from its subjacent fiat cover;

Fig. 7 is a somewhat enlarged view in longitudinal vertical cross section, along a line corresponding generally to line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8, 9 and'lO are, respectively, fragmentary views'in vertical transverse section along lines 8-8, 99, and Illl0 of Fig. 6, showing successive phases of the continuous body forming operation performed by the aforementioned chute;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the novel carton setup head of the invention, in accordance with one embodiment of the same, as viewed from line I 1-! I ofFig. 5;

Figs. 12 and 13 are, respectively, side elevational and plan views of a carton set-up head and operating provisions therefor which are of a modified character adapted for use in substitution for the set-up head'illustrated in Figs. 1 through 7, in the event a carton of the divisible type i to be operated on; and

Fig. 14 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the electrical control circuit employed in the operation of'the present apparatus.

Sufficient of the structural features of the aforesaid Troyk type carton are illustrated in Figs. 3, 3A, 5 and '7 through for the purpose of description of the present set-up machine therefor. For more specific information, reference may be made to the reissue patent identified above. Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 3A and 5, the paperboard carton, generally designated C, includes, in the substantially erected condition thereof illustrated in Fig. 5, a receptacle or body at, having front and rear side walls 12, 0, connected by a bottom e of inverted V-shape, so that the carton body in cross section, as shown in Fig. 5, has the outline of a W.

Carton body a has a cover 1 integrally hinged to the rear wall 0 by a longitudinally extending crease line 9. The inverted V-shaped bottom affords a longitudinal partition h, as referred to in the foregoing description, terminating at a longitudinal apex between two rows of egg receiving cells. These cells are further defined by the cross partitions i, which extend transversely of and at right angles to longitudinal partition 71. in their erected, operative condition.

In accordance with well-known carton structure these cross partitions i are cut from a partition panel which is adhered by a glue lap d to the rear wall 0 0f the carton. They normally lie coplanar with one another in the flat-knockeddown condition of the egg carton, see Figs. 3 and 8. The row of partitions 2' are disposed on either side of a medial longitudinal crease line 11' paralleling the apex of the longitudinal partition n. bein foldably superposed on one another along crease 7' in said flat condition.

Cross partitions i are integrally hinged to the front and rear walls b, c of the carton body a by certain triangular hinging gussets or webs Ic, relative to which they are adapted to be swung 90 from their original, coplanar relation into operative, normal relation to the bottom e and longitudinal partition h formed therefrom. The latter has longitudinally spaced, transverse slots therein which are adapted to receive the lower hook-like extremities or lugs Z of the cross partition i whereby to lock the latter in their final erected position. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the progressive erection of the carton by the application of opposite, compressive forces against the sides thereof as it traverses the body forming chute of the apparatus now decribed in general terms.

The apparatus of the invention consists of the several main operating devices or sections, as fol ows: A supply hopper, generally designated from which the lowermost, flat, knockeddown carton C is fed by a primary reciprocatory type feed device, generally designated I I, in conjunction with certain roller feed means; a prelimihary forming chute, generally designated I2, through which the carton is progressively fed by said roller feed means, and a further chaintype feeding device, generally designated I3, for pr wessive manipulation thereof in the fashion illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10; a holding chute or frame, generally designated I4, which is in effect a continuation of the forming chute I2, and to which the preliminarily shaped carton is discharged from chute 12 for final erection of the cross partitions; an oscillatory partition erecting head, generally designated I5, which is periodically actuated by certain driving instrumentalities, generally designated It, to bend the coplanar cross partitions i into the operative, right angular position thereof illustrated in Figs. 3A and 5; and an oscillatory bottom and longitudinal partition erecting and locking device,

generally designated I1, which is intermittently actuated in timed relation to the head I5 for the purpose of thrusting the bottom 6 of the preliminarily shaped carton inwardly of the carton body 0, to the inverted V outline thereof shown in Fig. 5. In this position the longitudinal partition it of said bottom is interlocked with the cross partitions 2' which have been previously manipulated by head I5. Following operation thereon by these instrumentalities, which will presently be described in greater detail, the carton is in fully erected condition and is then discharged by chain feed device I3 from the forward side of the holding frame or chute I4. The above devices are all supported on a suitable tubular frame F, preferably in an upward and forward inclination as shown in Fig. 1.

Structural details of the supply end of the machine, including the supply hopper I0, the feed device II and instrumentalities associated therewith, are illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, to which attention is now directed.

Said hopper includes pairs of forward and rearward angle iron uprights or corner members I3, I9, respectively, which are suitably sustained in rigid parallel relation to one another on a fiat, apertured or slotted hopper bottom plate 20 disposed across the top of and secured to the frame F, said uprights being preferably affixed rigidly to said bottom plate by the angle type bracket provisions 2 I.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the hopper bottom plate 25: is provided with a pair of elongated slots 22 extending in the front-to-rear direction and is also provided with further slots for the accommodation of the feeding provisions II, I3 as hereinafter described. Plate 2t serves as a sliding support for a reciprocable carton feeding shuttle 24 of novel character which is driven in timed relation to the carton set-up head I5. The shuttle 24 has the form of a generally rectangular member, generally U-shaped in plan view, which, as illustrated in Fig. 3, tapers gradually from its rear edge forwardly and downwardly to its front margin. It is longitudinally beveled at 25 along its opposite sides (see Fig. 2) and the hopper uprights I3, 59 are appropriately slotted or relieved their lower extremities adjacent plate 20 to permit forward and rearward reciprocatory motion of the shuttle 24 without losing lateral control of the stack of cartons C in hopper IIJ. Shuttle 24 has only a short reciprocatory stroke.

Hopper I0 incorporates improved means adapting it to receive either standard size cartons or an enlarged, jumbo size without requiring timeconsuming adjustments. Said means takes the form of an upright spacing shim or plate Ill of U-shaped outline which is adapted to be disposed internally of the side webs of the hopper uprights I8, I 9 on one side of the apparatus. This shim and said side webs have releasable slot and stud or bayonet-type securing provision Ill" enabling the to be quickly placed in position as a partial side filler for the hopper, and to be removed just as easily and quickly, when it is desired to enlarge the hopper area to accommodate jumbo articles.

The slots 22 of hopper bottom plate 23 are adapted to slidably receive and guide for reciprocation the respective pairs of longitudinally spaced, upstanding guide lugs 26 of a shuttle drive bracket 21 disposed beneath the hopper bottom plate 20, said lugs projecting upwardly 7 through the slots 22 andbeing secured to shuttle 24 by the screws 28. The bracket is also bored longitudinally through the lugs 26 to receive the longitudinally extending, shuttle driving, slide rods 29, to which said bracket is rigidly secured by set screws 30. Accordingly, as said rods 29 are reciprocated in timed relation to set-up head i5, by the means hereinafter described, the bracket 21 thereon imparts a forward-to-rearward movement of short stroke to shuttle 24. which is suflicient to introduce the leading edge of the lowermost carton C within the bite of the roller feed means hereinafter described.

Provision are incorporated in said shuttle to insure unfailing feeding engagement thereof with the rear edge of the lowermost knockeddown carton C in the stack in hopper i0, following the retractile stroke of the shuttle. To this end, the upper surface of said shuttle is longitudinally and centrally recessed at 3| and is provided with a T-shaped opening 32 rearwardly of said recess, said opening extending entirely through the shuttle in the vertical direction. A generally T-shaped carton engaging and advancing member 33 is associated with the shuttle 24. Said member is in the form of a transverse, vertically stepped bar which is secured on the rear end of an elongated leaf spring 34. The forward end of said spring is disposed in the above referred to, longitudinal upper recess 3| in shuttle 24 and is secured fixedly to the latter by screws '36.

The spring 34 normally supports the stepped carton advancing bar 33 in a somewhat elevated position relative to shuttle 24 when the hopper I is unloaded, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus insuring that when said bar 33 is retracted rearwardly beyond the rear edge of the stack of cartons in hopper ID, the carton engaging step 31 of the bar 33 will unfailingly and positively engage behind the trailing edge of the lowermost carton in said hopper. The height of the step 31 approximates the thicknes of the portion of the carton engaged thereby, so that snagging with the second carton immediately thereabove is avoided. Bar 33 slides beneath the latter in positively forwarding the lowermost article.

In order to fan the lowermost few cartons slightly forwardly in the hopper I0, thereby to further facilitate and insure positive and unfailing engagement thereof by advancing shoulder 31, it is desirable to provide cam means adjacent the bottom of the hopper. To this end the inturned flange 38 of the rear hop-per uprights l9 are vertically slitted for a slight distance and the slit portions 39 are offset forwardly. Thus, the lowermost few cartons descending by gravity in the hopper are stepped slightly and their rear edges separated somewhat in the direction of their subsequent longitudinal advance, as illustrated in Fig. 3, as they vertically approach shuttle 24.

Further to increase the reliability of feed of the flat carton C to the reciprocatory advancing device II, it is also desirable to apply to hopper ill some sort of restraining or load supporting device, such as is ilustrated in Fig. 1 and generally designated 40. Without going into detail as to the specific structure of this device, it may include a mounting bracket 4| journaling a roller 42, the periphery of which projects suificiently forwardly into hopper ill to engage the rear edge of the gravitationally supplied stack of blanks and to thus partially sustain the load in the 8 hopper. The weight of cartons on the carton advancing device ii is kept uniform regardless of the fullness of the hopper, and they are dropped at a uniform rate into position for engagement at their rear by the resiliently biased carton advancing bar 33.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the sliding rods 23 whereby shuttle 24 is reciprocated are guided in appropriate bosses in a pair of longitudinally spaced, transverse reinforcing ribs 46 which depend beneath hopper bottom plate 20. These rods are coupled at their forward end by a transversely extending, angle iron type cross head 41 provided at its mid point with a universal swivel joint, generally designated 48, by which the feed device II is coupled to an elongated connecting rod 53 extending forwardly of the apparatus. This rod is reciprocated in timed relation to the operation of the partition set-up head I5 in a manner which will become apparent following a description of the specific actuating mechanism NS for said head.

As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, internal, vertical metering gates 5| are provided on the feedout side of hopper ill, in the form of plates secured to a hopper bracket and terminating at their lower ends in predeterminedly spaced relation to the hopper bottom plate 20. A metering button 5| is threaded in said plate for vertical adjustment relative to one of said gates, being located directly therebeneath. This button may be adjusted as desired to enable proper feedout control by allowing for varying thicknesses of the paperboard used in the cartons.

The supply or hopper end of the machine has associated therewith means which is coordinated in the motor wiring circuit for the apparatus for interrupting the operation of the latter in the event the cartons are not being advanced properly through chute l2. The provision for this purpose, to the extent that they are associated with hopper I0 and feed device include a normally closed micro-switch 52 (Fig. 1) of standard type which is fixedly mounted beneath and adjacent the rear of hopper III. The forwardly extending control button 53 of this switch is depressed by a depending tappet member 54 on the shuttle 24 of reciprocatory feed device II, on the rearward stroke of the latter. When this occurs, the motor circuit for the apparatus is opened at said switch, and, in the event a carton is not progressing properly through chute |2 at the time, the entire motor circuit will be deenergized. In short, switch 52 is a circuit holding device coacting with other circuit control means, to be hereinafter described, to insure that a failure of a carton to be properly formed in chute |2 will be detected, and the apparatus halted, no later than the next succeeding return stroke of the feed device II. If desired, tappet 54 may be resilient in character, thus affording a predetermined delay interval of engagement with control button 53, during which I the circuit is broken at micro-switch 52.

Upon being fed forwardly in hopper III by the shuttle 24, the lowermost carton passes into the grip of pairs of opposed upper and lower feed rolls 58, 59, shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the hopper bed 2|] being provided with laterally spaced apertures through which the lower rollers extend for driving engagement with the carton. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the set of rollers on the lefthand side is spaced somewhat more than the other set to accommodate the multiple thickness of the carton body and bottom, and still exert uniform carton gripping action. The upper rollers 58 are carried by a cross bracket 6I provided with suitable trunnion cars 62 which freely journal said rollers. See Figs. 3 and 4. The lower rollers 59, as shown in Fig. 4, are bolted to flanges 64 which are secured on a transverse tubular shaft 65, with the rollers 59 in respective vertical alignment with the upper rollers 58. Said tubular shaft 65 is rotatably journaled by suitable internal bearing provisions at its ends (not shown) on opposed, in-turned trunnions carried by a pair of supporting arms 61, one adjacent either side of frame F, and these arms are in turn pivoted on brackets 68 depending from the hopper bed plate 29. See Fig. 1. The rollers 59 are resiliently sustained for frictional gripping engagement with the advancing cartons. This is accomplished by means of the coil springs 18 interposed between the out-turned upper abutment ears II on the pivoted arms 61 and fixed abutments 12 secured to hopper bottom plate 20. The springs Ill encircle depending pins I3 which are fixed to ears II and extend through abutments l2. Suitable provisions to limit or adjust the thrust of said springs may be employed.

The tubular roller carrying shaft 65 has a sprocket I'I fixedly secured thereto, as by a set screw, around which sprocket the carton advancing chain I3 is trained at one end, the said chain at the same time serving as a source of power for positively rotating the lower feed rollers 59. Chain I3 has sets of carton engaging dogs 18, I9 pivoted to certain of the chain links 80, the dogs I8 being longitudinally aligned and in equally spaced relation on one side of the chain and the dogs l9 being correspondingly aligned and spaced on the other side of the chain. However, the respective dogs 18, 19 are staggered longitudinally for a purpose which will appear. In order to accommodate said chain and dogs as the chain passes around sprocket 11, the hopper bottom plate 28 is slotted at 82 adjoining its forward edge, in the fashion illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

Said bottom plate carries a pair of laterally spaced, forked, forwardly 2nd downwardly projecting ears 83 adjacent its forward edge which serve to support an elongated, strap-lke control track 84 for governing the operation of the set of dogs 18, as well as a similar track for the dogs 79. The supporting provisions include, as illustr'zted in Fig. 4, an elongated plate 85 which is clamped between said ears 83 by the transverse bolts 86, with spacing and clamping collars 8! interposed between oppo ite sides of the plate 85 and said ears. The links of chain I3 ride along the upper surface of plate 85 end the cam control track 84 for the dogs 18 is suitably secured to said plate on one side of and somewhat below chain I3. Track 84 has the form of an elongated strip, rounded at its rear end 98 (see Fig. 3) for camming engagement with the control tail 9| of said dogs. The track is appropriately spaced from plate 85 for such engagement with the dogs by means of a spacer strip 92 interposed between the same and said plate.

In traveling over sprocket 11, the tail 9| of dogs it engages the rearward track cam nose 99 to pivot the dogs clockwise and thereby bring their forward carton engaging lugs 94 into position for operative engagement with the rear edge of the lowermost carton. This carton has been advanced to the rollers 58, 59 by the shuttle 24, and is advanced into chute I2 by said rollers. Dogs 18 have the function of continuing the 'cartons travel through chute I2, after a slight dwell upon leaving the rollers. At this stage, the forward edge of the carton has been substantially advanced by rollers 58, 59, and in a positive fashion, into chute I2, as is apparent from an inspection of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Certain parts thereof have been preliminarily spread by means associated with said chute, and in traveling forwardly the body a of the carton passes over the spaced, longitudinally extending riser strips 95 on the machine bed at either side of slot 82. These act to preliminarily lift the carton body for action thereon by the chute. A fixed hold-down finger 95', see Fig. 1, carried by cross bracket 6| functions to maintain further control of the carton body as it passes from rolls 58, 59, preventing it from snapping upwardly to an extent which would jeopardize its safe passage through the forming chute. Reference should be had to Figs. 2, 4 and 6 through 10, wherein details of shape of chute I2 are illustrated.

As illustrated in those figures, the chute I2 comprises opposed lateral sections 96, 91, preferably in the form of specially shaped aluminum castings which are appropriately bolted to one another and to flat operating bed 98 of the apparatus. This bed is secured to the side members of frame F. The chute section 91 issecured directly to said bed 98 by bolts 99, but the section 95, since it is on the side of the path of carton advance along which the carton cover 1 travels, must be supported in elevated relation to the bed 98 to afford a slight vertical clearance to accommodate said cover, thereby enabling the latter to travel under section 96 in outspread form. See Figs. 8 to 10. To this end, section 96 is provided with a laterally extending supporting boss I99 carrying an upwardly extending stud IUI which (as shown in Figs. 3 and 4) is fixedly but adjustably secured by lock nuts I82 to a forwardly extending ear I03 on the above described transverse roller journaling bracket 6 I. The connection affords whatever vertical adjustment of the chute section 96 is necessary at this point.

Chute 96, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, includes a rearwardly projecting spreading shoe I84 which has a rounded, laterally curved and rearwardly tapering knife-like carton distending tongue I85 affixed to its rear extremity. As cartons are advanced by reciprocatory feed device I I, the tongue I05 is inserted above the laterally extending cover I of the carton and beneath the lower cross partition 2 of the carton, in the fashion illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, to initially sepa-,

rate these portions in the vertical direction. Tongue I05 extends rearwardly toward the hopper III to about the center of feed rolls 58, 59 so as to make engagement with the carton as it is forwarded by shuttle 29. Rolls 58, 59 then drive the carton at points spaced on either side of said tongue 695, with the result that initial separation of the swingable portions of the carton body a from the cover is accomplished in a very positive and reliable manner.

Forwardly of the separating tongue I95, sections 96, 9'! are progressively shaped internally in curvilinear and angular sectional outline, as

illustrated in Figs. 8,9 and 10. The body a of the carton is progressively erected by these sections to a generally quadrilateral sectional shape as it traverses the chute I2, the sections applying opposite compressive forces to the body while guiding and restraining it during its travel. During final movement through the chute the carton is advanced by a dog 18. This plow or chute type of forming-device is generally well known; An. elongated wire cover restraining rod I08 is suite ably supported'by' brackets I09 on the machine frame and extends parallelto the path of carton travel. tion to chute section 96 and in vertically spaced relation to the machine bed 98, for the purpose of vertically restraining the cover I of the carton The bed 98 of the as it traverses the apparatus. machine has a continuous elongated slot .IIIi aligned with chain I3 and receiving the dogs", I9 as they travel the length of themachine.

The carton is advanced bya dog I8 through chute I2 and delivered intothe retaining section I4 the latter, whereupon the tail 9| of said I dog passes'off the forward edge of the control track-84, causing the drive lug 940i the dog to swing counterclockwise to an inoperative, dependent position, as shown in Fig.5;- The carton travel then comes to a halt pending operation of the cross partition and bottom erecting and locking devices I5, I'I. However, prior .to reaching this-zone, the carton has passed beneath an exposed pivoted roller-type control member II2 of a normally open micro-switch H3 mounted on chute I2, see Fig. 3A.

This switch is wired into the operating circuit of the-apparatus, along with micro-switch 52, in the manner illustrated in the wiring diagramof Fig. 14. In the event a carton is being properly formed inchute I2, the wall 1) thereof will engage the switch control member H2 and close the switch H3. The otherswitch 52 at hopper III insures that the motor circuit remains energized until this time, since it isof the normally closed type.- Accordingly, switch H2 being closed by a properly manipulated carton, the machine will continue to operate andthe hopper feed device will make its normal return and feed strokes. However, in the event a carton is not correctly formed in chute I2, the switch I I3 remains open, and upon the immediately succeeding rearward return stroke of the device II, its tappet 54, inengaging control button 53 of the microswitch52, will open that switch. Hence, the motor circuit will be de-energized (see Fig. 14) and theapparatus comes to a halt until the cause of the trouble is corrected. This constitutes a simplebut highly effective-dual holding control device which avoids extensive carton damage in the rare instances of improper formation of the carton body and feed thereof to theerecting head I and bottom forming device II.

Upon arrival of the formed carton body in position between the aforesaid partition and bottom erecting and locking devices I5, II, shown i1 Figs. 1, 2, 3A, 5 and 11, they come into successive operation to swing the cross partitions i of the carton downwardly about their triangular hinges is into erect position and to interengage the hooklike looking lugs l of said cross partitions in the slots of the bottom e of the carton. During these operations the formed carton bodya is held in position by the carton holding continuation I4 of section 91 of chute I2, as illustrated best in Fig. 5. This continuation member is bolted to the bed 98. and has an upper, inward overhang terminating in a re-entrant lip II4 adapted to restrain the free edge of the carton body as it is acted on by, devices I5 and I1.

Head I5 and bottom set-up device I! are pivotally supported by a pair of inverted U-shapedtubularmembers H5 which are a part of the It is disposed inlaterallyspaced .rela-.

forcing rib H6 which extends between and is 12: rigidly mountedionrsaid cross members.'I'II.-. Rib; I I6, as illustrated in Fig. 5, provides a mount for: the opposite. ends. of .a longitudinally extending,

fixed supporting shaftiI I8, on which an elongated tubular sleeve II91is appropriately mounted for oscillation; and this :sleeve has afllxed: theretoadjacent'opposite ends thereof ,a pair of longitudinally. spaced, axially: aligned hubs lie-from which integral, oscillatory supporting arms III for the partition erecting head 15' depend.

Thesleevells also has oscillatably journaled thereon theintermediate hub I22,: aligned-withhubs I20, from which the. longitudinally, spaced,-

integral actuating arms .I 23 for the-bottom set-up device I! depend." Accordingly, the sets'of arms I2I, I23- are independently pivoted about the fixed shaft H8 as-an axis. The bottom: set-updevice I1, which is borne by arms I23; is actuated from the drivinginstrumentality I6 for head I5, in timed relation 'to thelatter, by means of a linkage which will be-described in detail in con nection with the description of said head driving instrumentality IIi.

Referring particularly to- Fig. 11, and also to Figs. 2 and 5 for'the'general arrangement, the partition erecting head I5 includes a cast frame I25 to which arms-I2I are connected, and saidframe'is provided with a pluralityof pairs of integral, laterally projecting, fixed abutments I26,;there being apair of abutments for each pair of cross partitions i of the carton. A pair of guide rods I21 are also fixed to the frame in parallel, longitudinally extending, laterally spaced relation, these rods extending through bores in: the abutments I26 adjacent the bases thereof. The rods I21 support and guidea slidable partition erecting member I30, preferably also in the form of a one-piece casting, which is provided with laterally projecting-pairs of movable partition erecting fingers I3I. These-fingers arelongitudinally bored to slide on rodsv I21 and are adapted to engage-the cross partitions i of .the carton and swing'thesame abouttheir hinges into operativeerected :position, as the-member I30 shifts longitudinally along frame I25. They thusforce the partitionsi positively against the respectivefixed head frame abutments I23 and are adapted .tohold. the-partitions .in this posi tionpending operationof the plate-like bottom erecting device II..

The slidablehead member. I30-carries a pair of rearwardly' extending. lugs or. flanges I32 .to which a longitudinal driverod I33 is fixed, and saidrod has adjustably mounted thereon a forked connector I34. A composite, lost motion, actuating link I35 is pivoted to said connectorby a pin I35,-said link .being a part .of' the head driving device I6.

Referringv to Fig. .5, .thelink I36 is pivoted on its opposite endto a swivel member I3'I to accommodate vertical swinging ofthe link attending oscillation of head I5. .Said swivel member is pivotally articulated to a crank. I38 (see also Fig.

. 2) which is fixed Ito theupper end ,of a vertical drive shaft I39.

An important feature of the invention resides in the lost motionoperation of the link I38 on the thrust and retractile components of its crankactuated movement, during which thepartition erecting fingers .I3I of member I3II.are driven to the left and then returned to the right, asviewed in Fig. 11. For this purpose, link I36 has a multiple part construction, including an axially; bored, forked rod I42 .pivotally connected to the swivel member I31 and a coil spring I43 in compressed relation to the free end of said rod. Spring I43 encircles a stem-like extension I45 on an eye I46 by which the link I36 engages head pivot pin I35, said stem being in internally telescoped, guided relation to the bore of rod I32. Thus, as the crank I38 rotates counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 2) and link I36 enters the head driving phase of its stroke, 1. e., to the right, the crank will pass from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to the position illustrated in solid lines, and there will be a few degrees of rotation immediately preceding its arrival at the solid line position, during which the spring I43 is compressed (the swiveled rod I42 telescoping over stem I45) without corresponding longitudinal shifting of the head erecting member I30. This is due to the fact that the increment of forward, longitudinal thrust effective through the link during the initial phase of its thrust stroke is insufficient to slide the member I30 on the guide rods I21 of frame I25. Hence, energy is stored up in the spring during this time interval, and when it has elapsed the spring expands rapidly, shifting stem M5 and member I30 to the left, as shown in Fig. 11, with a snap stroke. The time delay incident to this lost motion feature is coordinated with the inward swing of the head I5 about its pivot shaft Us by head driving device I6, so that the partitions are positively hinged to erect condition by the fingers I3I simultaneously with the completion of the inward swing of the head. Pin and slot joint I41 limits the spring of link I36.

The oscillatory movement of the actuating arms I23 for the bottom set-up device or plates I1 is obtained as follows. Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, the vertical drive shaft I39 for crank I33 extends substantially downwardly beneath the bed 08 of the machine, and has a cam I53 ailixed thereto adjacent its lower end. This cam is engaged by a roller follower I5! carried by a forked arm I52 which is secured to the lower end of a vertically extending shaft I53. Shaft I53 is appropriately journaled in brackets I54 on the frame. A coiled spring I55 anchored to a fixed motor mounting plate I56 on the frame and connected at its opposite end to arm I52 serves to maintain contact of said follower I5I with cam I50.

Referring now to Fig. 5 in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, shaft I53 has a crank arm I51 fixedly connected thereto adjacent the upper end thereof. Arm I51 is connected by a universal balltype joint I58 to one end of an adjustable link I59, and link I59 is in turn similarly pivoted at its opposite end to a crank arm I integral with the intermediate hub I22 which carries the depending arms I23 on which device I1 is mounted. Thus it will be apparent that said arms are oscillated in delayed phase relation to the oscillation of the head supporting arms I 2i on the opposite side of the carton.

The lower ends of arms I23 adjustably support the plate-like bottom erecting blade I65 which is adapted to enter into the chute section. Id through an elongated aperture I56 in the side of the latter. Blade I65 has longitudinally spaced knife-like elements I61 affixed to itsinner edge which are engagealole along the crease defining the longitudinal partition 71., preferably entering in certain pre-formed slits of the carton bottom 2 coincident with said crease, thereby to guide the longitudinal partition 71. to its inverted V-shaped outline shown in Fig. 5 and to engage the slots in bottom e with the locking lugs l of the previ- 14 ously erected partitions i of the carton. When this is done, the arms I23 withdraw blade I65, and the operation of setting up the carton is finished.

Following this, a dog 19 comes into engagement with the rear edge of the erected carton, in the fashion illustrated in Fig. 3A, to transport said carton out of the chute section It. This is accomplished by providing a control cam track I10 underlying the path of the dogs 19, said track being similar to the track 84 for dogs 18 and being supported by the chain guide plate in the same manner that the track 84 is supported, but on the opposite side of said plate. Thus the completed cartons are discharged from the chute isection i l to an appropriate receptacle or the ike.

In addition to driving the head actuating crank I38 and the set-up plate actuating cam I50, the vertical shaft I39 also serves as a source of power for reciprocating the carton feed device II, as shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose the shaft carries an eccentrically mounted circular disk I13 immediately below the bed 98 and has a coacting yoke I14 surrounding and in peripheral sliding engagement with said disk, to which yoke the connecting rod 50 is adjustably connected. Hence, rotation of the shaft I 39 imparts reciprocatory motion to said rod and to the feed device I 5 in timed relation to the oscillatory movements of the arms I2 I, I 23 on which the partition and bottom set-up and locking instrumentalities are carried.

The drive for the various instrumentalities described above, and transmitted through shaft I 39 as above described, is initially derived from a suitable electric motor I15 mounted on a plat form I11 carried by the machine frame F beneath the bed 98. Said motor has a pulley I18 on its shaft driving a V belt I19 (see Fig. 1) and thereby rotating the transverse main drive shaft tilt) at a somewhat reduced speed through a larger pulley I8I on said shaft, about which said belt is trained. Shaft I30 is connected through a standard reduction gearing I83 appropriately mounted on the frame, as by the fixed depending plate I50 or other mounting provision, and vertical drive shaft I39 is driven from said gearing at appropriately reduced speed.

The carton advancing chain I3 is driven as follows. Main drive shaft I39 has a small drive sprocket I 84 secured thereon and a flexible power chain I85 is trained around this sprocket. Chain I 35 drivingly engages a larger sprocket I35 on a chain driving shaft I81 which is appropriately journaled on the machine frame adjacent the forward end of the chute section It. A chain driving sprocket I83 is secured on shaft I31 in laterally spaced relation to the power chain I85 (see Fig. 5) and in longitudinal alignment with the rear chain sprocket 11, and the carton advancing chain I3 is trained thereover. A third idler sprocket ISI) for chain I3 is adjustably supported on the frame at a rearward point (see Fig. 1), the mounting means therefor having clearance space to permit the passage of the car ton advancing dogs 18, I9 around said sprocket It is evident that the engagement of the partition set-up head I5 with the carton partitions i to swing the same inwardly is attended by the imposition of a substantial longitudinal force on the carton as a whole. This would normally tend to shift the carton forwardly in an undesired manner. Likewise, it is desirable to provide positive carton stop means to insure that each formed carton body a isunfailingly fed longitudinally into the holding member I4 a predetermined distance, and no more. Otherwise, the operation of head I and device I'I'will be faulty.

Hence, in the use of the typeof head illustrated ment I95 in the form of a dog intermediately.

pivoted at I96 on thetop of the chute holding section I4, adjacent the discharge end thereof, see Fig. 1. Said section has a slot through which element I95" is adapted to swing clockwise to a position to" engage and halt the forward edge of a carton in the chute, i. e., in the dotted line position of Fig. 5. In this lowered position the carton abuts longitudinally of the element I95 and is positively restrained from undesired forward shifting under the aforementioned longitudinal thrust by the head I5. To time the movement of the element I95, the head supporting arm I2I has a cam roller I91 thereon which is engageable with an adjacent cam surface I98 on element I95 to urge the latter to the inoperative solid line position of Fig. 5. This is the position of element I95 when the set-up head I5 is inserted fully into the carton body, with the cross partitions i gripped between its abutments I25 and movable fingers I3Il. Following operation of thebottom set-up plate I65 of device II, the head I5 commences to retract, whereupon the chain feed dog 19 discharges the completed carton from the chute, just as soon as there is suiiicient lateral clearance past the head. At the end of its retractile movement the arm I2l functions to reposition the stop element 95 in chute Hi. This is effected by the engagement of a second cam roller I99, carried by a lateral extension 2.0 of arm I2I', with a second cam surface I98 on element I95. 'lhus the element W5 is returned to position to engage the leading edge of a carton forwarded into chute section I4 and to posi-' bed. 'lhe carton cover 1 overlies and frictionally engages said strip as the carton is being operated'on by head l5, resisting lateral movement of the carton body a as the head is withdrawn and, in fact, spring biasing the body somewhat to hold it against the inner side ofchu'te exten sion I4.

In the operation of the apparatus, upon actuation' of'a standard master stop-go control switch 2III wired in the motor circuit in the manner shown in Fig. 14, the various instrumentalities are driven in timed relation. The shuttle 24 of the reciprocatory. feed device II is actuated by connecting rod 50 from vertical drive shaft I39 and advances inengagement with the rear edge of the lowermost carton C in hopper IO 'to initially forward the same from said hopper into the bite of'rolls 58, 59. The advancing carton, upon exiting from the hopper, first encounters the rearwardly extending spreading tongue I05 on shoe IMof the section 96 of chute I2, which is operative to lift the cross partitions i of the carton somewhat and separate the stem from the carton cover 1, the latter passing beneath said tongue. After a predetermined advance by the device I I, the latter reverses its stroke under the control of the eccentric operated connecting rod 59, and returns rearwardly a full stroke beneath the carton stack, whereupon the spring biased, stepped feed bar 33 on shuttle 24 of said device I I springs upwardly into engagement behind the rear edge of the next carton.

In the meantime, the rollers 58, 59 fully remove the first mentioned carton and insert the same into chute I2. Next a dog I8 on one side of the continuously traveling chain I3 passes around sprocket TI and through the slot 82 in the bed 26 of the hopper, and comes into engagement with the rear edge of said carton, being positioned for this engagement by cam-elevation of its tail 9! by the elongated control track 84. The carton is then moved continuously through chute I2 by chain I3, being shaped to generally quadrilateral outline by the coacting lateral sections 96, 91 of said chute. The cover I of the carton is vertically restrained by the longitudinal rod hi8 during this travel.

While traversing the chute I2 the upper portion of carton body I) normally rides beneath and engages the control member IIZ of the normally open micro-switch M3 to hold the motor circuit closed, but if the carton is not'being properly erected in the chute, this engagement fails to take piace, the switch H3 is opened, and the ther switch 52 is opened on the next back-stroke of shuttle 24 to interrupt the motor circuit.

'ihe erected carton is delivered by the chain dog :8 to the holding section I4 of the chute into forward abutment with the detent element I95 and the dog I8 disengages the rear edge of the carton, due to its tail sI riding off the forward edge of the fixed control track 84.

'ihe partition erecting head I5 now comes into operation. Its'fixed abutments i2t are projected into the carton interior on the forward side of the respective partitions i, the head being swung on the suspending arms IZI by the crank I33 and link I35 of lost motion driving device I6 while this takes place. During this phase the coil spring hi3 of the head actuating link I33 is being compressed, without relative movement of the movable ringers ISI of the head until a certain point is reached in the rotation of crank I38. At this time the energy stored in spring I43 suffices to snap the head member I30 forwardly. This causes the partitions i, which have been but partially pivoted about their integral hinges by the engagement of the forward side of the head abutments I25 therewith,'to be snapped rapidly forwardly into final position normal to the axis of the carton. They are held positively in this position between the abutments I26 and fingers I3I until the bottom set-up blade I65of the device I1 is swung inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby thrusting the bottom e and longitudinal partition h thereof into locked relation to the hook elements 1 of the cross partitions i.

The spring I43 maintains the aforesaid positive clamped engagement of said partitions between the head abutments and fingers even though the actuating link I36 for head I5 has commenced its retractile' stroke. This time delay feature arising from the lost motion characteristic of the link I36 thus insures holding of partitions 2' until the device ll has functioned, and it is an important feature of the invention.

Following the completion of erection and loci ing of the carton partition, the head I5 and device it retract outwardly and upwardly and the detent element withdrawn from the carton path. A carton feed dog ii! on the oppo site side of chain is from the dogs it now comes into operative relation to the rear edge of the carton, due to camrning engagement of its tail ill with the control strip lid, and the carton is discharged forwardly by said dog from the holding section Id of the chute.

It may be found desirable, for the purpose of damping vibration incident to the snap operation of the set-up head member I39, to provide means for slowing down its movement, particularly on its return stroke. For this purpose there is provided the dash pot device 295 shown in Fig. 2. This is simply a fixed air cylinder Zilil, appropriately mounted on the frame I25 of setup head I5, and a plunger therein connected by a rod 2t? with the reciprocatory partition setup member ItIl. Such device cushions the return stroke of said member during a phase when no special speed of operation is required, to thereby prevent objectionable vibration.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate a modified embodiment of a partition set-up head which specially adapts the apparatus for operation on cartons of the divisible type, i. e., perforated for subdivision into two equal halves. Cartons of this type are characterized by sets of like cross partition members on opposite sides of a central transverse division line, which sets swing in opposite directions about the respective integral partition hinges. It is accordingly necessary to provide a set-up head of the sort shown in Figs. 12 and 13, having sets of movable fingers which shift in opposite directions toward coacting fixed abutments. Many of the details of this head are practically identical to parts of the head illustrated in Fig. 11, hence, in the interest of simplicity, will be referred to by corresponding reference numerals, primed.

It will be noted that the fixed frame I25 has a central abutment member 21s provided with opposed faces 2H adapted to coact with adjacent set-up fingers I3! on the oppositely movable slide members 2 I2, ZIS. The latter are slidably guided on the elongated rods I21" fixedly carried by frame I25. The actuating link I36 for this head is pivoted in an adjustable manner on the elongated rod 2 It to which the head member tit is secured, as by an integral boss 2I5; and the forward end of said rod serves as a tappet which engages one end of a reversing lever 2I5 pivoted at ZI'I on the head frame I25. The opposite end of lever 2H5 is pivotally coupled to an adjustable link 218, and said link is in turn pivoted at 2I9 to the head set-up member 2I2. Accordingly, upon the lost motion, spring-urged reciprocation of rod 2M the members 2I2, 2|3 will be simultaneously shifted in opposite directions for coaction of their movable fingers I3I' with the fixed abutments I26 in erecting the oppositely swingable partitions of the divisible type carton. A tension spring 22B connected between member 2I2 and a fixed anchor, as the supporting arm I21, assists in the return stroke of members 2l2, 2l3.

In all other respects, the operation of a machine in which this form of head is incorporated 18 is the same as that described in detail above. However, it will be observed that the thrust imparted to the carton by the oppositely movable fingers I3l of the head is self-compensating so that it is unnecessary to employ a detent device such as is represented by the element I of the first embodiment.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the type described, a supply device for fiat knock-down cartons to be erected, a feed mechanism for advancing a carton from said supply device in a forward direction, and a forming device through which said carton is advanced by said feed mechanism, said forming device including a forming chute having longitudinally extending portions slidably engaged by said carton as the latter advances therethrough to shape the same in generaliy rectangular cross sectional outline, and a separating extension projecting rearwardly and terminating immediately adjacent said carton supply device, said element being engageable between superposed layers of said carton immediately upon issuance thereof from said supply device to separate said layers from one another.

2. In a machine of the type described, a supply device for fiat knock-down cartons to be erected, a feed mechanism for advancing a carton from said supply device in a forward direction, and a forming device through which said carton is advanced by said feed mechanism, said forming device including a forming chute having longitudinally extending portions slidably engaged by said carton as the latter ad- P vances therethrough to shape the same in generally rectangular cross sectional outline, and a separating extension projecting rearwardly and terminating immediately adjacent said carton supply device in a laterally curved and gradually beveled tongue insertable between superposed laycrs of said carton immediately upon issuance thereof from said supply device to separate said layers from one another.

3. In a machine of the type described, a supply device for fiat knock-down cartons to be erected, a reciprocatory feed device to advance a carton from said supply device in a forward direction, a carton forming device toward which said carton is advanced by said feed device, said forming device including a forming chute having longitudinally extending portions slidably engaged by said carton as the latter advances therethorugh to shape the same in generally rectangular cross sectional outline, and a separating tongue projecting rearwardly and terminating immediately adjacent said carton supply device for engagement between superposed layers of said carton incident with issuance thereof from said carton supply device, and a further carton advancing mechanism engageable with the rear edge of the carton so engaged by said tongue to continue the advance of said carton through said forming device following thereturn stroke of said reciprocatory feed device.

4. In a machine of the type described, a supply device for flat knock-down cartons to be erected, a reciprocatory feed device to advance a carton from said supply device in a forward direction, a carton forming device toward which said carton is advanced by said feed device, said forming device including a forming chute having longitudinally extending portions slidably engaged by said carton as the latter advances therethrough to shape the same in generally rectangular cross sectional outline, and

a separating tongue projecting rearwardly and terminating immediately adjacent said carton supply device for engagement between superposed layers of said carton incident with issuance thereof from said carton supply device, and a continuous chain-type carton advancing mechanism engageable with the rear edge of the carton so engaged by said tongue to continue the advance of said carton through said forming device following the return stroke of said reciprocatory feed device.

5. In a machine of the type described, a supply hopper for a stack of flat knock-down cartons, a feed device reciprocable beneath said hopper for advancing the lowermost carton of said stack in a forward direction, a carton body forming device toward which said carton is advanced forwardly by said feed device, and a continuous carton advancing mechanism operable on a carton to continue the advance of said carton through said machine, said mechanism including an endless flexible device provided with two sets of carton engaging elements, one set on either side thereof, the elements of the respective sets alternating in longitudinal spacing along said device, and means to periodically shift the elements of said respective sets relative to said flexible device for operative engagement and disengagement with a carton.

6. In a machine of the type described, a supply hopper for a stack of flat knock-down cartons, a feed device reciprocable beneath said hopper for advancing the lowermost carton of said stack in a forward direction, a carton body forming device toward which said carton is advanced forwardly by said feed device, said forming device including a separating tongue projecting rearwardly toward and terminating adjacent said hopper, said tongue being engageable between layers of said carton to separate the same, and a continuous carton advancing mechanism operable on a carton so engaged by said tongue to continue the advance of said carton through said machine, said mechanism including an endless fiexible device provided with two sets of carton engaging elements, one set on either side thereof, and means to periodically shift the elements of said respective sets relative to said flexible device for operative engagement and disengagement with a carton.

7. A container erecting machine of the type described, comprising a means to supply flat knocked-down containers, a feed mechanism including a reciprocatory device, said mechanism being operative to advance a container from said supply means, an erecting device through which a container is advanced by said feed mechanism progressively to shape the container, a switch engageable by said reciprocatory feed device, a further switch engageable by an advancing container, and an operating circuit for said machine controlled by said switches.

8. A container erecting machine of the type described, comprising a means to supply flat knocked-down containers, a feed mechanism including a reciprocatory device, said mechanism being operative to advance a container from said supply means, an erecting device through which a container is advanced by said feed mechanism progressively to shape the container, a switch mounted adjacent said supply means and engageable by said reciprocatory feed device on a retractile stroke thereof, a further switch associated with said erecting device and engageable by an advancing container, and. an operating circuit for said machine controlled by said switches to interrupt operation of the machine in the event said supply means is empty or a container is not properly shaped by said erecting device.

9. A container erecting machine of the type described, comprising a means to supply fiat knocked-down containers, a feed mechanism including a reciprocatory device, said mechanism being operative to advance a container from said supply means, an erecting device through which a container is advanced by said feed mechanism to progressively shape the container, a normally closed switch mounted adjacent said supply means and engageable by said reciprocatory feed device on a retractile stroke thereof, a further, normally open switch associated with said erecting device and engageable by an advancing container, and an operating circuit for said machine controlled by said switches to interrupt operation of the machine in the event said supply means is empty or a container is not properly shaped by said erecting device.

10. A carton erecting machine of the type described, comprising a supply hopper for a stack of fiat knocked-down cartons, a feed mechanism including a reciprocatory device operative to advance the lowermost carton from said stack, a progressive body forming device comprising a hollow chute engageable with a carton advanced by said feed mechanism to preliminarily shape the same, a normally closed switch mounted adjacent said hopper and having a control element engageable by said reciprocatory feed device on a retractile stroke thereof to open said switch, a normally open switch having a control element extending into said forming chute and engageable by a carton advancing therethrough to close said last named switch, and an operating circuit for said machine controlled by said switches for de-energization under certain circumstances.

11. In apparatus of the class described, means for advancing a fiat, knocked-down carton of the swingable partition type, means to preliminarily shape the body of said carton during the advance thereof, and a partition erecting instrumentality in receiving relation to said last named means, comprising a partition set-up head, means mounting said head for transverse movement relative to the path of carton advance, said head having a. plurality of longitudinally movable partition erecting elements engageable with the partitions of said carton upon said transverse movement of said head, and an actuating device for said head comprising a driving member, a resilient linkage connecting said driving member and head to shift the latter transversely of the path of carton advance and into engagement with the carton, and means operatively connecting said linkage with certain of said longitudinally movable head elements to impart delayed longitudinal movement thereto at an angle to the transverse movement of the head.

12. In apparatus of the class described, means for advancing a flat knocked-down carton of the swingable partition type, means to preliminarily shape the body of said carton during the advance thereof, and a partition erecting instrumentality in receiving relation to said last named means, comprising a partition set-up head, means mounting said head for transverse movement relative to the path of carton advance, said head having a plurality of longitudinally movable partition erecting elements engageable with the partitions of said carton upon said transverse movement of said head, and an actuating device for said head comprising a driving member and a reient, lost motion connection between said driving member and certain of said head elements to impart delayed longitudinal movement thereto an angle to the transverse movement of the head, said connection comprising a rotary crank, a longitudinally expansible connecting rod pivoted on said crank and in pivotal driving relation to said head elements and means exerting resili nt expanding action on said rod.

13. In apparatus of the class described, means for intermittently advancing longitudinally a partially erected partition-type carton, and a partition erecting instrumentality operative to erect partitions of said carton during a dwell in its advance, comprising a partition set-up head, means pivotally mounting said head for swinging movement transversely of the path of carton advance, said head having a plurality of partition erecting fingers mounted thereon for longitudinal movement as a unit and engageable with the partitions of said carton upon transverse movement of said head to erect said partitions, a further forming element pivotally mounted for swinging movement transversely of the carton advance and in opposition to said head to interit said erected partitions with the carton body, d means to drivingly interconnect said head :1 element for synchronized swinging movent thereof.

i l. a machine for erecting elongated partition-type cartons, a partition erecting head movable transversely of the length of said cartons, said head including a plurality of fixed abutments and a plurality of partition erecting fingers movable relative to said abutments to engage the partitions of the carton therebetween thereby erect said partitions, means mounting said fingers for longitudinal sliding movement relative to said abutments in a direction paralleling the length of the carton, means including a resilient lost motion linkage actuating said fingers for said movement, and means actuating said head through said linkage to transversely engage the head with the carton for operation of said fingers on said partitions,

15. In a machine for erecting elongated partition-type cartons, a partition erecting head movable transversely of the length of said cartons, said head including a plurality of fixed abutments and a plurality of rigidly coupled, partition erecting fingers movable relative to said abutments to engage the partitions of the carton therebetween and thereby erect said partitions, means mounting said fingers for longitudinal sliding movement as a. unit relative to said abutments in a direction paralleling the length of the carton, means including a resilient lost motion linkage actuating said fingers for said movement, and means actuating said head through said linkage to transversely engage the head with the carton for operation of said fingers on said partitions.

16. In a machine for erecting elongated partition-type cartons, a partition erecting head movable transversely of the length of said cartons, said head including a plurality of fixed abutments and a plurality of sets of partition erecting fingers, the fingers of each set being engageable with certain of the partitions of the carton to erect the same against said abutments, means mounting said respective sets of fingers for opposite, longitudinal, sliding movements relative to said a-butments in directions paralleling the length of the carton, means including a resilient lost motion linkage simultaneously actuating said sets for said movements, and means actuating said head through said linkage to transversely engage the head with the carton for operation of said fingers on said partitions.

17. In a machine for erecting elongated partition-type cartons, a partition erecting head movable transversely of the length of said cartons, said head including a plurality of fixed abutments and a plurality of sets of partition erecting fingers, the fingers of each set being rigidly coupled to one another and being engageable with certain of the partitions of the carton to erect the same against said abutments, means mounting said respective sets of fingers for opposite, longitudinal, sliding movements relative to said abutments in directions paralleling the length or" the carton, means including a resilient lost motion linkage simultaneously actuating said sets for said movements, and means actuating said head through said linkage to transversely engage the head with the carton for operation of said fingers on said partitions.

18. In a machine for erecting elongated partition-type cartons, a partition erecting head movable transversely of the length of said cartons, said head including a plurality of fixed abutments and a plurality of partition erecting fingers engageable with the partitions of the carton to erect the same against said abutments, means mounting said fingers for longitudinal sliding movement relative to said abutments in a direction paralleling the length of the carton, means including a resilient lost motion linkage for intermittently actuating said fingers for said movement, means acting through said linkage to shift the head transversely into engagement with said carton for operation of said fingers, and means actuated in timed relation to operation of said finger actuating means to prevent longitudinal movement of the carton under force imparted thereto by movement of said fingers.

19. Apparatus for erecting a collapsed, cellular, hinged cross partition type egg carton, characteriaed by a tubular body having integrally hinged side wall, bottom and coplanar cross partition-bearing panels, comprising means for advancing the egg carton endwise of said panels, means for progressively distending the tubular carton body to generally rectangular outline while so advancing, including a channel laterally restricted on both sides of the path through which the carton is forwarded by said advancing means, said channel engagin and exerting transverse compressive force on opposed integral hinges of the carton body panels, and means for deflecting the cross partitions of said partitionbearing panel about the respective hinges thereof from coplanar relation to a spaced, parallel, erected condition.

20. Apparatus for erecting a collapsed, cellular, hinged cross partition type egg carton, characterized by a tubular body having integrally hinged side wall, bottom and coplanar cross partitionbearing panels, comprising means for advancing the egg carton endwise of said panel, means for progressively distending the tubular carton body to generally rectangular outline while so advancmg, including a channel laterally restricted on both sides of the path through which the carton is forwarded by said advancing means, said channe1 engaging and exerting transverse compresammo sive force on opposed integral hinges of the carton body panel, means to halt the advance of the carton, and means acting while the carton is halted to deflect the cross partitions of the partition-bearing panel about the respective hinges thereof from coplanar relation to a spaced, parallel, erected condition, said last named means engaging said partitions in a direction transverse the direction of carton advance.

21. Apparatus for erecting a collapsed, cellular, hinged cross partition type egg carton, characterized by a tubular body having integrally hinged side wall, bottom and coplanar cross partitionbearing panels, comprising means for advancing the egg carton endwise of said panels, means for progressively distending the tubular carton body to generally rectangular outline while so advancing, includin a channel laterally restricted on both sides of the path through which the carton is forwarded by said advancing means, said channel engaging and exerting transverse compressive force on opposed integral hinges of the carton body panels, means for deflecting the cross partitions of said partition-bearing panel about the respective hinges thereof from coplanar relation to a spaced, parallel, erected condition, and control means associated with said channel and operatively connected to said carton advance means, said control means being operated in response to the presence or absence of a carton in said channel to govern actuation of said carton advance means.

22. Apparatus for erecting a collapsed, cellular, hinged cross partition type egg carton, characterized by a tubular body having integrally hinged side wall, bottom and coplanar cross partitionbearing panels, comp-rising means for advancing the egg carton endwise of said panel, means for progressively distending the tubular carton body to generally rectangular outline while so advancing, including a channel laterally restricted on both sides of the path through which the carton is forwarded by said advancing means, said channel engaging and exerting transverse compressive force on opposed integral hinges of the carton body panel, means to halt the advance of the carton, means acting while the carton is halted to deflect the cross partitions of the partitionbearing panel about the respective hinges thereof from coplanar relation to a spaced, parallel, erected condition, said last named means engaging said partitions in a direction transverse the direction of carton advance, and control means 24 associated with said channel and operatively con nected to said carton advance means, said control means being operated in response to the presence or absence or a carton in said channel to govern actuation of said carton advance means.

23. Apparatus for erecting a collapsed, cellular, hinged cross partition type egg carton, characterized by a tubular body having integrally hinged side wall, bottom and coplanar cross partition-bearing panels, comprising a carton supply device, means for advancing egg cartons from said supply hopper in a direction endwise of said panels, means for progressively distending the tubular carton bodies to generally rectangular outline while so advancing, including a channel laterally restricted on both sides of the path through which the cartons are forwarded by said advancing means, said channel engaging and exerting transverse compressive force on opposed integral hinges of the carton body, means for deflecting the cross partitions of said partitionbearing panel about the respective hinges thereof from coplanar relation to a spaced, parallel, erected condition, means for engaging said cross partitions with said bottom panel, and control means for said carton advance means, comprising control elements associated with said channel and with said supply device, and means operatively connecting said control elements to said carton advance means for actuating the latter in accordance with the presence or absence of cartons in said channel and supply device.

RICHARD J. FAHEY.

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